Chris completed pupillage at a leading common law set and additionally undertook the conversion requirements to qualify as a Solicitor. Chris is authorised to accept direct access instructions and was one of the first self-employed barristers to be authorised by the Bar Standards Board to conduct litigation on behalf of his clients.
Chris spent the first few years of his practice employed by a top tier national law firm where he was in-house Counsel and Head of Costs Litigation. In 2010 Chris moved to the independent bar where alongside his expertise in Costs law, he has developed a successful Commercial, Credit Hire, Personal Injury (including Insurance Fraud) and Inquest practice.
Chris’ practice and experience has been built on a foundation of providing clients with quality and straightforward advice and representation. He is renowned for not being afraid to think outside the box and for his ‘entrepreneurial’ backbone.
Types of work undertaken
Chris’ credit hire expertise is highly regarded. He regularly receives instructions to act on behalf of both Claimants and Defendant Insurers in Appeals, Multi-Track and higher value Fast Track matters and is noted as preferred Counsel on a number of Defendant insurer and CHO panels. He has a particular specialism in claims arising out of taxi hires and in cases where ‘intervention’ arguments arise.
Chris’ Commercial and Chancery practice has included receipt of direct instructions from Credit Hire and Accident Management companies to advise upon and draft/amend hire, storage and repair agreements.
Chris continues to act as retained Counsel for one of the UK’s largest CHO’s where he is regularly called upon to advise the technical team and main board on regulatory, contractual and strategic issues, including advice in respect of business models and procedure post-LASPO.
Recent work
In a credit hire claim (where Chris was instructed by the Defendant insurer both in respect of the substantive claim and then costs), Chris successfully obtained a non-party costs order against the credit hire company following the dismissal of a claim valued in excess of 200,000, one of the largest ever single Claimant hire/storage claims.
Notable Cases
Filho –v- Allianz
2014
Restriction to Claimant’s costs in credit hire claim where proceedings following unreasonable exit from the Pre-Action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury Claims in Road Traffic Accidents.
Randhawa -v- Hogan (SCCO) (Master Hurst)
2012
Recovery of ’standard basis’ costs in credit hire case where damages agreed below Fast Track threshold.
Tiller –v- Provident Insurance
2009
Claimant ordered to pay costs of Defendant’s unsuccessful Part 20 proceedings brought against a repairing garage on an indemnity basis due to poor conduct.
